<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dsounG @ Jul 25 2006, 11:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>C'Mon. Two seasons ago it was just minor. He only missed 4 games. And if you havn't heard the new TMac is working out everyday, goes to rehab just incase and he is in great shape.</div>How many games did he miss last year? exactley! He has had alot of seasons were he has missed over 10 games. Just to let you know, that is not normal.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>He's powerful, but with only 9RPG, and of course just watching games and seeing him get pushed around, shows he isn't strong and agressive enough yet. He also needs to build up that stamina (which he appears to be doing). If the Rockets want to get farther in playoffs then they did in 2004-2005, they need him to be playing more minutes.</div>9 RPG? Where did you get that? He averaged 10 rebounds last year. And what are you watching? He doesn't get pushed around, period. Anyone can see that, I don't see how you can't.And he played 34 MPG last year, a lot more than the 04-05 season. And, might I add, that's 4 more minutes than Shaq played.
Oops, I was thinking of year before. Nontheless, at 7'6'' and probably being the best center in league, he should be grabbing more.Unlike Shaq, who can pretty much stand in paint at will, Yao has trouble getting that low on opponents without a player like T-Mac breaking down defense for him.He had to play more without T-Mac for a good part of the year, but in playoffs he will need to be lugging 36-37MPG. Especially when Deke is the only backup, where Shaq has the best backup center in league and a healthy swingman.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Unlike Shaq, who can pretty much stand in paint at will, Yao has trouble getting that low on opponents without a player like T-Mac breaking down defense for him.</div>Obviously, Shaw can do it, he weighs about 340 pounds. Plus, he gets away with more than Yao. And Yao did play without T-Mac most of the season, and still tore it up anyway. Remember, Yao is not a power player. He doesn't have to stand in the middle of the paint to score, and I don't think he wants to either. He scored 22 points a game just fine, and will average at least another 20/10 this year.
He won't get 22PPG with T-Mac on the team. Because of the body he has, he should take advantage of it. While he IS a GREAT finesse big man, he has tons of potential. A lot of time you see him trying to overpower people, but that becomes an offensive foul. You gotta setup position in middle of paint like Shaq used to do if you want to get that down low.I do like Yao really working hard, though. It is exciting to see his improvement. Hopefully with a healthy T-Mac we will see just how deadly the combo is (with an unhealthy T-Mac they won like 14 out of 16 in february-March!).
